How is HADP Enhancing Horticulture in J&K’s Poonch and Doubling Farmers’ Income?

Poonch, June 3 (NationPress) In a remarkable initiative to elevate horticulture and double farmers’ income, the Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a state-of-the-art poly greenhouse nursery at its district headquarters in Poonch through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). This effort aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of revitalizing the agricultural sector.

The newly established facility enables year-round cultivation of fruit plants, unaffected by seasonal fluctuations. District Horticulture Officer Sanjeev Kumar explained that earlier, the department depended on seeds for plant growth, which typically required seven years to yield fruit. However, with the adoption of grafting techniques within the poly greenhouse, fruit plants will now start producing in just three years.

In an interview with IANS, Sanjeev Kumar emphasized the overarching aims of HADP, which has been operational in J&K for the last two years.

"There are 29 initiatives under HADP, inaugurated by PM Modi. Our emphasis is on horticulture, specifically through projects 9, 15, and 21. We aim for individuals to cultivate their own plants, lessen reliance on external sources, and achieve self-sufficiency," he stated.

"We also plan to provide similar high-tech poly greenhouse nurseries to farmers at subsidized rates, enhancing their productivity and income," added Sanjeev Kumar.

He noted that Poonch is particularly well-suited for Pecan nut cultivation, a crop that is unique to this region within the Union Territory.

"We also grow apples. This poly greenhouse will significantly support and expand our horticulture practices," Sanjeev Kumar informed IANS.

HADP, driven by the Agriculture Production Department of J&K, consists of 29 comprehensive projects spanning agriculture, including horticulture, crop production, and livestock. Through 75 integrated schemes, the program aims to ensure sustainability, self-sufficiency, and commercial viability in the regional agrarian economy.

Horticulture encompasses the science and art of developing, sustainably producing, marketing, and utilizing high-value, intensively cultivated food and ornamental plants. Horticultural plants serve various purposes, including food, medicinal uses, ornamental value, aromatic properties, or for the wine industry. This diversity leads to various fields within horticulture, such as floriculture, viticulture, olericulture, arboriculture, pomology, and oenology, which involve the study, cultivation, and marketing of flowers, grapes, vegetables, trees, fruits, and wine, respectively. Each domain of science enhances the aesthetic appeal of crop fields while strictly adhering to growth guidelines to maximize the output of plants tailored for specific uses in these industries.